Education Foundation Hall of Fame salutes new members

By Leigh KelleyTimes-News Staff Writer

Published: Thursday, March 21, 2013 at 10:20 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, March 21, 2013 at 10:20 p.m.

This year's inductees for the Henderson County Education Foundation Hall of Fame all shared the ability to be creative, inspire students and put the needs of students ahead of their own, Blue Ridge Community College President Molly Parkhill said Thursday during the foundation's Hall of Fame awards dinner.

Retired teacher Tom Orr created the Hall of Fame in 2002 as a way to honor people who have provided outstanding leadership, service and contributions to the area's public schools. The first class was inducted in 2003.

The 2013 inductees, which include Sadie Smathers Patton, donor of the land where Blue Ridge Community College sits, had a tremendous impact of Henderson County education, Parkhill said.

"This year's inductees, with their accomplishments, are impressive to say the least," she said.

Several of the people in this year's Hall of Fame class received their recognition posthumously, including Patton and Chat Jones. The Hendersonville businessman, who died last year, spent time and money donating diapers and child/infant carseats to Balfour Education Center students who were young mothers. He was also a founding member of the committee that created the Hall of Fame.

His widow, Judy Jones, accepted the award on his behalf. She said he was nominated before he died, but she never told him about it because she wanted it to be a surprise.

"He was nominated by Corum Smith (former Balfour principal) and he didn't know that," Jones said. "I think he would be very humbled and honored to be part of such a group. He had a love for public education and he felt it was a very important thing."

Hall of Fame inductess John Love and Wanda Love each dedicated decades to local education, although in different ways. Wanda Love was principal of Fletcher Elementary, in the years following her work as a teacher. John Love worked for DuPont and served 18 years on the Henderson County School Board, beginning in 1970.

Wanda Love said the highlight of her career as an educator was "the tremendous support I had to do the things I wanted to do."

Her husband gave a different, but heartfelt, answer when asked what marked the highlight of his years supporting public education. "I have to tell you, the highlight of my career is right here," he laughed.

The mission of the Henderson County Education Foundation is to support the county's schools, said HCEF President James D. Wiley. The Hall of Fame inductees represent the best of the best among people who have put the welfare of the county's children and their educational needs first, he said.

The inductees:

• Frank J. Byrd, an administrator at BRCC for 29 years who served as director of counseling services and also as dean of Student Services.

• Rosa Edwards (1877-1932) and Lois Edwards (1884-1931), teachers at Fourth Avenue Graded School/Academy, Hendersonville's grammar school with grades 1-10. Rosa Edwards was principal at the school for 13 years until her death in 1919, and the school was renamed for her.

• Ruby Hernandez, a Mills River Elementary fixture who served as secretary in its main office for 28 years, from 1964-92.

• Chester Allen (Chat) Jones (1949-2012), who helped the community and youth in particular in many ways as a good samaritan and persistent historian. The 1969 Edneyville High graduate chronicled local history including the schools, as he collected photos and press clippings and gave multimedia presentations.

• John Love and Wanda Love. Wanda Love was principal of Fletcher Elementary, and her teaching career included positions with the Transylvania and Henderson county school districts. She worked as director of elementary education and media for 13 years in the HCPS central office. John Love served 18 years on the Henderson County School Board, beginning in 1970, which was the first year that board members were elected to office rather than being appointed. He also served 15 years on the BRCC Board of Trustees, leaving the board in 2005.

• Mary Valentine Mims, who taught home economics in the all-black Ninth Avenue School from 1948-1965, then at the integrated Hendersonville High School until her retirement in 1985. The city of Hendersonville established June 20, 2012 as Mary V. Mims and Hannah L. Edwards Day when Ninth Avenue and earlier Sixth Avenue schools (1916-65) were commemorated with a marker dedication at U.S. 64 West and Valley Street.

• Kathryn Streeter Morgan, an educator for 32 years who taught health and physical education at Hendersonville High (1974-99), then served as the school's assistant principal and lead teacher. She was the 1996 N.C. High School Physical Education Teacher of the Year.

• John Floyd Whitmire, who coached basketball at Edneyville High as a highlight of a teaching and coaching career that thrived from 1965-84. He served as bus supervisor and trainer for more than 20 years before heading back into the gym to work as a coaching assistant at North Henderson High (2005-2012).

• Louise Jones Williams (1917-2011), who taught elementary school for 32 years, including more than a decade at Mills River School, then at Balfour until she retired in 1979.

• Phyllis L. Wilson, who taught second grade for 30 years (1963-93), primarily at Bruce Drysdale Elementary. She has served as president of the Henderson County Retired School Personnel for four years.

<p>This year's inductees for the Henderson County Education Foundation Hall of Fame all shared the ability to be creative, inspire students and put the needs of students ahead of their own, Blue Ridge Community College President Molly Parkhill said Thursday during the foundation's Hall of Fame awards dinner. </p><p>Retired teacher Tom Orr created the Hall of Fame in 2002 as a way to honor people who have provided outstanding leadership, service and contributions to the area's public schools. The first class was inducted in 2003.</p><p>The 2013 inductees, which include Sadie Smathers Patton, donor of the land where Blue Ridge Community College sits, had a tremendous impact of Henderson County education, Parkhill said.</p><p>"This year's inductees, with their accomplishments, are impressive to say the least," she said.</p><p>Several of the people in this year's Hall of Fame class received their recognition posthumously, including Patton and Chat Jones. The Hendersonville businessman, who died last year, spent time and money donating diapers and child/infant carseats to Balfour Education Center students who were young mothers. He was also a founding member of the committee that created the Hall of Fame.</p><p>His widow, Judy Jones, accepted the award on his behalf. She said he was nominated before he died, but she never told him about it because she wanted it to be a surprise.</p><p>"He was nominated by Corum Smith (former Balfour principal) and he didn't know that," Jones said. "I think he would be very humbled and honored to be part of such a group. He had a love for public education and he felt it was a very important thing."</p><p>Hall of Fame inductess John Love and Wanda Love each dedicated decades to local education, although in different ways. Wanda Love was principal of Fletcher Elementary, in the years following her work as a teacher. John Love worked for DuPont and served 18 years on the Henderson County School Board, beginning in 1970.</p><p>Wanda Love said the highlight of her career as an educator was "the tremendous support I had to do the things I wanted to do."</p><p>Her husband gave a different, but heartfelt, answer when asked what marked the highlight of his years supporting public education. "I have to tell you, the highlight of my career is right here," he laughed. </p><p>The mission of the Henderson County Education Foundation is to support the county's schools, said HCEF President James D. Wiley. The Hall of Fame inductees represent the best of the best among people who have put the welfare of the county's children and their educational needs first, he said.</p><p><b>The inductees:</b></p><p>• Frank J. Byrd, an administrator at BRCC for 29 years who served as director of counseling services and also as dean of Student Services. </p><p>• Rosa Edwards (1877-1932) and Lois Edwards (1884-1931), teachers at Fourth Avenue Graded School/Academy, Hendersonville's grammar school with grades 1-10. Rosa Edwards was principal at the school for 13 years until her death in 1919, and the school was renamed for her.</p><p>• Ruby Hernandez, a Mills River Elementary fixture who served as secretary in its main office for 28 years, from 1964-92.</p><p>• Chester Allen (Chat) Jones (1949-2012), who helped the community and youth in particular in many ways as a good samaritan and persistent historian. The 1969 Edneyville High graduate chronicled local history including the schools, as he collected photos and press clippings and gave multimedia presentations.</p><p>• John Love and Wanda Love. Wanda Love was principal of Fletcher Elementary, and her teaching career included positions with the Transylvania and Henderson county school districts. She worked as director of elementary education and media for 13 years in the HCPS central office. John Love served 18 years on the Henderson County School Board, beginning in 1970, which was the first year that board members were elected to office rather than being appointed. He also served 15 years on the BRCC Board of Trustees, leaving the board in 2005.</p><p>• Mary Valentine Mims, who taught home economics in the all-black Ninth Avenue School from 1948-1965, then at the integrated Hendersonville High School until her retirement in 1985. The city of Hendersonville established June 20, 2012 as Mary V. Mims and Hannah L. Edwards Day when Ninth Avenue and earlier Sixth Avenue schools (1916-65) were commemorated with a marker dedication at U.S. 64 West and Valley Street.</p><p>• Kathryn Streeter Morgan, an educator for 32 years who taught health and physical education at Hendersonville High (1974-99), then served as the school's assistant principal and lead teacher. She was the 1996 N.C. High School Physical Education Teacher of the Year.</p><p>• Sadie Smathers Patton (1886-1975), who donated 109 farm acres for Blue Ridge Technical Institute, now Blue Ridge Community College, in memory of her late husband, Preston F. Patton.</p><p>• John Floyd Whitmire, who coached basketball at Edneyville High as a highlight of a teaching and coaching career that thrived from 1965-84. He served as bus supervisor and trainer for more than 20 years before heading back into the gym to work as a coaching assistant at North Henderson High (2005-2012).</p><p>• Louise Jones Williams (1917-2011), who taught elementary school for 32 years, including more than a decade at Mills River School, then at Balfour until she retired in 1979.</p><p>• Phyllis L. Wilson, who taught second grade for 30 years (1963-93), primarily at Bruce Drysdale Elementary. She has served as president of the Henderson County Retired School Personnel for four years.</p><p>Reach Kelley at 828-694-7871 or leigh.kelley@blueridgenow.com.</p>